A 17-month-old female child in Philadelphia died on March 6, 2022, as a result of serious physical neglect. The child was found unresponsive by her mother and was transported to a local children's hospital where she was pronounced dead. A toxicology screening revealed the child tested positive for an illegal substance. The mother, who was the sole caregiver at the time, was named as the perpetrator by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services. The family was previously known to child welfare. At the time the report was indicated, no criminal charges had been filed.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states: "A toxicology screening revealed the child tested positive for an illegal substance." A 17-month-old testing positive for an illegal substance constitutes evidence of child drug ingestion or exposure.
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report explicitly states: "naming the victim child's mother as the perpetrator" and "the mother was the sole caregiver of the child at the time of incident." The biological mother is directly implicated in the child's death through serious physical neglect.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report states: "The family was previously known to child welfare." This explicitly indicates prior child protection involvement with the family.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states the 17-month-old child "tested positive for an illegal substance" and that "the mother was the sole caregiver of the child at the time of incident." For a 17-month-old to test positive for an illegal substance, the substance necessarily had to be present in the caregiver's environment, which strongly implies the mother possessed and likely used illegal substances.
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